Australia progressed deliberately to move beyond halfway in their attempts to match India's mammoth first innings score in Delhi, thanks to half-centuries from all four top-order batsmen. Not even a pitch invasion by a swarm of bees during the afternoon session could disrupt the tourists' concentration, captain Ricky Ponting top-scoring with 87 as India struggled to take wickets on the slow surface. Michael Clarke, unbeaten on 21, and Shane Watson (4) will take to the middle tomorrow looking to add the 76 runs required to avoid the follow-on.

India's hopes of tying up the four-game series with a second, consecutive victory were further dented by an injury sustained by Anil Kumble, and the bulk of the bowling may now fall upon the shoulders of the leg-spinner Amit Mishra, in only his second Test. Mishra's return of one wicket for 95 runs was not indicative of the turn available, and Virender Sehwag, only a part-time twirler with 20-odd Test wickets to his name, had more luck, snaring Matthew Hayden (83), Ponting and Michael Hussey (53) for figures of three for 66 from his 22 overs.

Building on an opening stand of 123 between Hayden and Simon Katich, Australia accumulated steadily throughout the day, Ponting recording only his second half-century in 19 innings in India. Showing further evidence of his improvements against spin, Ponting used his feet well to Sehwag and Mishra - although he was spared another trial by Harbhajan Singh, who is absent through injury. However, both Ponting and Hayden were floored shortly after lunch - along with most of the Indian team - as a cloud of bees descended on the stadium, causing the action to be delayed as players and umpires lay flat against the ground.

While no bee-related injuries were reported, Kumble was stung by a more predictable source: Hayden's escape on 70 resulting in more pain for the Indian skipper, as he failed to hold on to a ferocious drive at midwicket. The physio was called out to attend to a bleeding finger, but Kumble was required to return to the dressing room for more treatment, ending another barren spell of 17 overs. The 38-year-old, who missed the second Test in Mohali due to injury, failed to pick up a wicket in the first Test in Bangalore and has now bowled a total of 68 overs without return against Australia.

Success with the ball was delivered via Sehwag's offbreaks, and by removing Ponting and Hussey - both bowled ­- during the evening's play, the opener boosted India's hopes of securing a significant first-innings lead. Australia would have hoped for a big hundred from one of their top four, given India's batting on this strip, and the wicket of Hussey, Australia's top run-scorer in this series, will have been greeted by no small delight among the home support. The left-hander had played watchfully for his 50, only to see his off-stump pegged back by a superb Sehwag delivery.

Resuming on 50 for no loss overnight, Australia's openers had ensured that the solid start to their reply continued, with Katich in particular looking good. The Western Australia batsman was active at the crease against the leg-spin of Kumble and Mishra, and had confidently negotiated pacemen Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma as he closed on a half-century. That personal mark was raised when he shuffled down the track to push Kumble to mid-on for a single, but he was dismissed soon after by Mishra, attempting to work the ball on the on-side but missing completely to be bowled through the gate.

Hayden survived being rapped on the helmet by Zaheer with the very first delivery of the day, and he went on to pass 50 for the first time this tour. Having weathered the early storm, which saw Zaheer hit him again in his opening over, the burly left-hander worked himself into a semblance of form as he built his innings, bringing up his half-century with a classy cover-drive off Mishra. Kumble's drop preceded another lucky escape when an edge off Sehwag fell just short of first slip, but Hayden's resistance was ended by the same bowler soon after when he was trapped plumb in front. Nevertheless, the Queenslander's resolve has provided a platform that may yet see Australia keep the series alive going into next week's fourth Test in Nagpur.